The illustrated growing guide
Roman Chamomile
Chamaemelum nobile
Family Asteraceae
Est. zones 4-9
Perennial chamomile, lower and mat-forming compared with German chamomile. Useful between stepping stones, in herb lawns, and as a fragrant tea groundcover where drainage is good.
Full Sun to Part Shade
Low water
Moderate growth
Attracts beesI
Overview
Will roman chamomile suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it fruit where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what roman chamomile actually needs.
Hardy inZones 4-9Roman Chamomile at a glance
Common roman chamomile problems
- Aphids (minor)
- Root Rot in wet soil
- Powdery Mildew
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow roman chamomile: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate roman chamomile
When to spray roman chamomile
Growing season. Improve drainage and airflow.
The roman chamomile growing playbook
Field-tested instructions for every job roman chamomile asks of you, compiled from university extension guidance — in the order the season brings them.
Harvesting
Pick Roman chamomile flowersJun – Sep
Harvest fresh-open flowers on a dry morning and dry promptly in a single layer. Frequent picking keeps flowers coming and improves tea quality.
⚠ Avoid if ragweed-family allergies are severe.
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The year
What roman chamomile asks for, month by month.
The roman chamomile year, month by month
BloomWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
The roman chamomile year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar quiet month
- Apr quiet month
- May quiet month
- Jun bloom
- Jul bloom
- Aug bloom
- Sep bloom
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Roman Chamomile in the garden system
- Groundcover layer perennial
- Nectary/insectary
- Living mulch
What roman chamomile is grown for
! Some parts toxic — see notesCaution: may trigger ragweed-family allergy or contact dermatitis in sensitive people
Harvesting & storing roman chamomile
Flowers when freshly open; leaves lightly for aroma.
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of roman chamomile, ruled as a catalogue.
Best roman chamomile varieties & cultivars
Species; 'Treneague' (non-flowering lawn chamomile)
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to roman chamomileyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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Questions
Roman Chamomile questions, answered straight.
Is roman chamomile safe for kids and pets?
With care. Caution: may trigger ragweed-family allergy or contact dermatitis in sensitive people Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
When do you harvest roman chamomile?
Flowers when freshly open; leaves lightly for aroma.
How do you propagate roman chamomile?
Division or seed.
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Elsewhere
Where roman chamomile sits in the library.
Mint
Thyme
Lemon Thyme
Comfrey